Serious crime rate trebles under new way of measuring

Serious and violent crimes increased at more than three times the rate recorded by police over the past five years, according to a new type of measurement.

Crimes weighted on a severity index on the basis of the harm they cause society and individuals increased by almost 17 per cent compared with under 5 per cent on those reported and recorded by police in England and Wales.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS), which published initial findings, said that the figures showed police were dealing with a more complex mix of crimes including serious, violent and sexual offending while the volume of offences such as theft fell or were stable. West Yorkshire topped the crime severity table while Dyfed Powys was bottom.